Getting Rid of Clutter:
Your Reptilian Brain

Getting rid of clutter is not just about your stuff. In fact, that's the reason it can be so tough getting rid of it!




The truth is, your clutter will try to trick you.

I really love hearing all the reasons we come up with for holding on to our stuff.

Because here's the deal: when getting rid of clutter, your stuff will try everything possible to trick you into believing it's not actually clutter.

I bet you've experienced this yourself (likely many times).

When you catch yourself telling very creative and inventive stories about why you need to keep something, you can be certain that you are dealing with clutter.

Things that bring you joy and energy don't need explanation or stories.

But clutter does.

Clutter must know, somehow, that it is at risk of being tossed...so it goes into major survival mode.

And what does clutter use to try to convince you that it is absolutely vital to your survival?

Scare tactics, that's what.

And these scare tactics are very sophisticated versions of the 24/7 broadcast messages shouted out by our reptilian brain (the part of our brain structure that evolved around the time of the lizards, hence the name).

Our reptilian brain shares two types of messages with us, every day, all day long, and here's what they are:

1. Scarcity: There is never enough, there never will be enough, and you will never have enough. And you will surely DIE.
2. Attack:  There is a tiger around the bush up ahead, and it is going to eat you. And you will surely DIE.

Now these messages come out in modern language, so they appear very convincing. They sound something like:

1. "I couldn't possibly get rid of those notes I wrote 15 years ago. I may need to go back and look at them again someday. There might be brilliance in those notes. In fact, I might come up with a bestseller just from reading those notes I wrote 15 years ago. All of my good ideas were back in those notes; I'm sure of it. If I throw them away, I'm throwing away the chance to write a fabulous book. (And I will surely DIE)."
2. "I don't have time to go through that stuff. I have much more important things to do, like work 70 hours this week (so I can avoid the tiger in the bush up ahead). Because if I don't, I will surely DIE (or perhaps be a bag lady, which is very close to death)."

Your clutter is trying all the scare tactics in the book with you. If one argument doesn't work, it will jump right in and try another one...because getting rid of clutter means "the end" for your stuff.

The next scare tactic might throw in a pile of guilt (your mom would be so hurt if you got rid of the sweater she bought you seven years ago, that you still haven't gotten yourself to wear...in fact, she'd be hurt, she'd disown you, and you'd be all alone...and of course, you'd surely die) or shame or the belief that you're wasteful...

Get the picture?

So now you know.

You are shining the light on your clutter, and you know that in getting rid of clutter, your stuff will try to trick you.

But here's the best news.

You are the one in control here, not your stuff.

You are the adult.

You are the owner of your stuff, and you get to say what happens to it.

Whenever you feel the stories and scare tactics coming up (and they will), recognize what you are dealing with.

It's simply clutter in full-on survival mode.

And it's time to let it go...so toss it, recycle it, donate it, sell it, or have a ceremony and burn it (somewhere safe, of course).

Just plan on getting rid of clutter.

And then smile. :)

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